Coin controlled mechanism



July 27, 1965 R. T. CORNELIUS COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheefl Filed July 16, 1962 Flag IN VEN TOR RICHARD T. CORNELIUS g ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. T- CORNELIUS COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM July 27, 1965 Filed July 16, 1962 mvsmoa v RICHARD T CORNELIUS awflg ATTORNEYS Wadi/Q4:

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 16, 1962 s 0U ML F- m 0 0 D R A H m R ATTORNEYS United States Patent F 3,197,097 QQEN CQNTRGLLED ItiEtIHANlSll-i Richard T. (Zorneiius, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to The Cornelius Company, Anoira, Minm, a corporation of Minnesota Filed July 16, 1962, Ser. No. 216,103 1 Claim. (Cl. 194-63) This application for patent is a continuation in part of an application for patent filed by me for Coin Operated Selective Bottle Dispensers on April 5, 1962, and bearing Serial No. 185,309, new Patent No. 3,163,328.

The herein disclosed invention relates to coin controlled rel ase mechanisms particularly designed for use with a bottle dispenser such as shown in my aforementioned application for patent and has for an object to provide a mechanism wh ch may be readily placed into or removed from the bottle dispenser cabinet.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a coin controlled release mechanism which will operate with two nickels or a dime and which will reject pennies.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a coin controlled release mechanism forming in conjunction with a bottle rack on which bottles to be dispensed are carried, a trunk passageway for selectively removing the bottles from the rack.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the mechanism with a bottle dispensing compartment having an inlet opening communicating with said trunk passageway and an outlet opening communicating with the exterior of the dispenser cabinet.

An object of the invention resides in providing the coin controlled mechanism with a swinging arm having a blade adapted to block the inlet opening and a cam follower adapted to block the outlet opening, said blade and cam follower being arranged so that when one opening is closed the other is open and vice versa.

A feature of the invention resides in providing resilient means for urging said arm into a position in which the inlet opening is normally open and the outlet opening is normally closed, whereby a bottle may be manually moved into said bottle dispensing compartment.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the coin controlled mechanism so that the bottle upon withdrawal from said bottle dispensing compartment serves as a cam, engaging the cam follower and temporarily swings said arm to move said blade into a position blocking said inlet opening.

A still further object of the invention resides in proiding a cycling device adapted to prevent a cycle of operations from being initiated prior to the completion of a preceeding cycle.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter illustrated and or described.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a coin controlled beverage dispenser in which a coin controlled mechanism embodying the instant invention has been illustrated.

PEG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, and drawn to a greater scale.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and drawn to the same scale as FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar .to FIG. 3 and showing the parts in altered position. I

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 taken on line 55 f FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the parts in altered positions.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, a potdj ifim Patented July 27, 1965 tion of a cabinet of a bottle dispenser has been shown which is indicated by the reference character A. In this cabinet is mounted a bottle rack B adapted to hold a number of bottles containing dhferent beverages and from which bottles may be selected. The bottle rack B is associated with the coin controlled release mechanism forming the subject matter of the instant invention and which is indicated by the reference character C.

The cabinet A consists of an outer shell Ill and an inner liner 11 disposed within the same and spaced from said shell to provide a space 12 therebetween. The liner of the cabinet is constructed to provide a front wall 13, a rear wall 14, a bottom 15, and end Walls one of which has been illustrated and indicated by the reference numeral 1'17. The outer shell 1% is similarly constructed. The cabinet A is provided with an opening 18 at the top of the same and through which communication may be had with the interior $19. The upper ends of the outer shell and the inner liner are closed by means of an annular cap 23 which is secured to the upper edges of the front, back, and end walls of the liner and shell and which closes the space 12 within the same. A scuff shield 21 extends about these parts. The upper portion of the cabinet is closed by means of a cover 27 hingedly connected to the outer shell 1th by means of hinges 28.

The bottle rack B consists of a number of inverted U-shaped intermediate guides 41 which are spaced apart to form slots 39 therebetween and in which the bottles may be disposed. In addition to the intermediate guides at, outer guides 51 are employed which extend along the front and rear walls 13 and 14 of t e liner lit. The rack is supported for sliding movement along the walls 13 and 14 by means of rollers 65 which are rotatably mounted on said walls and which engage the guides 51. By means of this construction the rack B may be moved from a position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 to a position shown in dotted lines providing a space 115 through which bottles may be inserted through the upper opening 13 and into the grooves 39 formed between the guides 4-1 and 51 of the rack.

The coin controlled release mechanism C of the dispenser comprises a case 71 which includes a wall 74 which lies adjacent to the wall 17 of liner 11. The said case also includes a top 75 which has a slot 76 formed in the same, a wall 77 extending parallel to the wall 74 and formed with a slot hgregistering with the slot 76 and further includes a bottom 78. The bottom 78 and the front wall 77 are integral and likewise the top 75 and the wall 74. The wall 77 and the bottom 73 are formed with flanges 81 and 32 of which the flange 31 underlies the top 75 and of which the flange S2 overlies the lower marginal portion of the wall 74. These flanges are attached to the wall 74 and the top 75 by means of rivets 83 and 84.

Extending across the walls 74 and '77 are partitions 72 and 73 which are formed with flanges 69 and 7t Flanges d9 of partition 72 are secured to the walls 74 and 77 by means of rivets 79 and flanges 76 of partition 73 are secured to the top 75 and the bottom 78 by means of rivets 8b. The top 75 extends completely across the liner 11 and engages the walls 13 and 14 thereof. Issuing outwardly from the top 75 are struts 85 and 86 which extend up to the ends 43 of the guides 51 when the rack is in dispensing position. The ends 49 of the guides 41 lie in alignment with the ends 43 of the guides 51. By means of this construction a trunk passageway 38 is formed which communicates with a compart merit 94 formed by the wall 74;, partitions 72 and 73 and open at the top through the slot 76 in the top of the case 71.

swinging arm To hold the coin controlled release mechanism in place a latch lug 37 is attached to the wall 14 of liner 11 and another latch lug 83 is attached to the wall 13 of said liner. A key-controlled lock 89 has a latch 91 which is movable into a position clear of the latch lug S7 or into engagement therewith. When the latch 91 is clear of the lug 87 another latch 92 formed on the top 75 and which normally engages latch lug 88 is freed from saidlatch lug and the entire case with all the mechanisms may be removed from the cabinet A by tilting the case 71 in a forwardly direction and raising the same.

The coin controlled release mechanism C includes a 2. which is pivoted on a horizontal pintle 94 mounted in the case 71. This arm has a blade 95 disposed adjacent wall 77 which when in one position extends partly across the slot d9 in wall T7 and blocks entry of a bottle into the compartment 9% When, however, positioned as shown in full lines in FIG. 3, the bottle may pass through said slot and enter into said compartment 9%). The arm 93 is'further formed with a cam follower 95 which prevents the removal of the bottle upwardly by its engagement with the inclined surface 97 of a bottle 1%. The coin controlled device forming part of the coin controlled release mechanism C prevents the movement of the arm'93 from its full line position shown in FIG. 6 to its full line position shown in FIG. 3 until the proper coins have been inserted in said device. When the arm 93 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3 a bottle from any of the slots 39 may be brought into the passageway 38 and from there through slot 76 and into the compartment 9%. l Upon insertion of the proper coin or coins in the coin controlled device the arm 93 is released and the bottle may be removed upwardly and withdrawn from the dispenser. During such movement the inclined surface 97 of the bottle serves as a scam engaging the cam follower 96 and swinging the arm 93 to its dotted line position as shown in PEG. 4. The blade 95 in this position is moved in back of the bottle and prevents other bottles from'being moved into the compartment 9% when the follower 95 is out of the way. Upon the bottle passing the cam follower 96, arm 93 is moved back to its full line position by means of a spring 93. This spring is connected to the top '75 of case 71 at 110 and to the arm 93. V

The arm 93 is held from movement out of its full line position as shown in FlG. 3 by means of a latch lever iii pivoted on a pintle 102 secured to the case 71. This lever has a latch 1% which is adapted to ride along a track 104 formed on the arm 93, and which serves to guide the latch lever 101 for movement relative to arm 93. This latch is adapted to engage an abutment 1% formed on the track This abutment limits movement of the cam follower 96 and prevents removal of the bottle through the slot 76. The arm 93 has formed in it two sockets 1&3 and 1539. The socket 109 is open at both ends and forms a passageway for the coins. When a dime is inserted into the socket 168 and the bottle lilil pulled upwardly, cam 97 engages the cam follower 96 and swings arm 93 in a counterclockwise direction. A roller itfiicarried by lever 1G1 rides over the dime as shown in FIG. 4 and permits the arm 93 to swing upwardly sufficiently to free latch 183 from abutment 196 and allow the bottle disposed within the compartment 91 to be drawn upwardly past the cam follower 96 and freed from the device. When two nickels are disposed in the socket 199 as shown in FIG. 5, the latch 163 which serves as a cam follower rides over the same and allows the arm 93 to be moved as previously described. 7

At the upper end of the passageway 199 is provided two pins 119 and 118. The uppermost coin in this passageway engages said pins as shown in FIG. allowing cam follower MP3 to ride over both of the coins and free the article for removal. It" the coin is sufficiently small it will pass between said pins and the cam 193 will push the first coin inserted ahead and will then engage abutment 1% and prevent release of the article. Small coins inserted first will pass beneath the cam 19.?) and have no effect in releasing the article. Upon the roller ill? passing over the coin in slot iii-fl or the latch 193 passing over the coins in slot 139, the coins are free to roll out of the sockets and into the interior of the case U. A guide ill? attached to wall 77 directs the coins into a coin box 116 resting on the bottom 78 of case 71. Extending across the case 71 is a rod 112 which carries a flexible bumper 113. Ann 93 isadapted to engage this bumper when the said arm is moved to its full line position shown in FIG. 5. A spring 165 attached to the rod 1.5.2 and the latch lever 1 .21, at 1114 urges the latch :93 into enga geinent with the track 1%.

The upper portion of the top 75 of case 71 is formed with an opening 15$) and through which a portion of the coin Controlled release mechanism including the arm 93 projects. This opening is closed by means of a hood 151 which is secured to the top by means of screws 1511. extending through said top and screwed into the hood proper from beneath. This hood is hollow and is provided with an inclined wall 153 which has slots 354 and 155 formed therein and which communicate with the sockets 163 and 1&9 in the arm 93. The slots 154- and 3.55 are of proper dimension to snugly receive dimes and niclrels and to prevent coins or slugs of greater dimensions from entering the sockets 1G3 and 1539.

To prevent several bottles from being withdrawn upon the insertion of a coin or coins intended for a single bottle, a cycling device 149 is employed. This device utilizes a ratchet wheel segment 14-1 which is formed on the arm 93. Cooperating with the said segment is a pawl 142 which is pivoted on a stud 143 secured to the wall 74 of case 71. This pawl has an eye 144 and to which is hooked one end of a tension coil spring 145. The other end of this coil spring is looped over the rod 112. The parts are so positioned that the pintle 94, pawl 1 .2, stud 143 and rod 112 are substantially in alignment. By means of this construction the pawl 142 is always in position to engage the ratchet segment 141. The ratchet segment 141 is of a length such that the pawl 2.42 does not engage the same until the proper coins have been inserted in the coin slot and the latch 193 is free from the abutment res. Once the pawl 142 engages the ratchet segment 141 reverse movement cannot be given to the arm 93 until the arm has moved to its final position and the pawl freed from the ratchet segment.

In the use of the device the coin operated release mechanism C is removed in its entirety by inserting the proper key in the lock 89 and swinging the latch 91 clear of the latch lug 87. Due to the shape of the case 71 at the rearward portion of the same, said case may hinge about the latch 92 and the 'latch lug 88 and swing upwardly and forwardly out of the cabinet A. Thecoin box 116 may now be emptied. When the mechanism C is removed the struts and 36 no longerengage the ends 4-8 of the guides 51 and the entire rack B may he slid toward the left and into the space normally occupied by the mechanism C. This provides a space at the right hand end of the rack B and through which access may be had to bottles disposed on the bottom 15 of the liner 11. These bottles may then be elevated and slid into the slots 39 formed by the guides 41 and 51 and supported thereby. When a suificientnumber of bottles have been inserted in said slots the rack may be moved back again and the coin operated mechanism replaced and locked in the cabinet A. Movement of the rack is then prevented.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The mechanism is extremely simple in construction and positive in operation. The mechanism forms a trunk passageway in conjunction with the bottle rack communicating with the slots in the rack containing the bottles and with a compartment formed within the case of the mechanism.

The parts can be formed from plastic material. The device prevents removal of more than one bottle for each deposit of coins. Where two coins are required the insertion of one coin will not free the bottle. Smaller coins than those for which the slots are constructed will pass through the mechanism without releasing the bottles. Larger coins cannot enter the slots 154 and 155.

Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

In a coin controlled article release mechanism having a cabinet, a case within said cabinet, a reciprocating arm pivoted to said case, said case normally receiving the article from a magazine in said cabinet when said arm is in a first position, said arm having restraining means restraining movement of the article out of the case when in such position, said reciprocating arm being adapted upon movement thereof to a second position to shift said restraining means to release the article for removal from said case and means on said reciprocating arm to prevent entry of a second article into said case while the first article is being released, the combination of:

(a) said reciprocating arm being provided with a pocket forming a coin passageway open at one end,

(b) means on said case having a coin receiving slot of dimensions to receive coins of a certain diameter and communicating with said passageway,

(c) a single latch lever pivoted to said case about an axis parallel to the axis of said arm and having a single latch fixed relative thereto,

(d) a single abutment on said arm engageable with said latch to restrain swinging of said arm to article releasing position,

(e) said passageway being of a length to receive two coins of proper diameter,

(f) a cam follower on said lever engageable with the edges of both coins in the passageway and upon movement of said arm sliding successively on the edges of both coins which serve as cams to shift said latch to a path of movement free of said abutment to release the article for removal,

(g) said abutment being disposed at a locality in advance of the normal position of said latch a distance sufiicient to bring the latch into the path of movement in which it would encounter said abutment in the event of absence of a second coin in the passage- (h) said reciprocating arm having a second coin passageway open at one end,

(i) a second coin receiving slot in said arm of dimensions to receive coins of a different diameter and communicating with said passageway,

(j) said second passageway being of a length to receive a single coin of proper diameter,

(k) a second cam follower on said lever engageable with the edge of the coin in the second passageway and upon movement of said arm sliding on the edge of the coin in the second slot which serves as a cam to shift said latch to a path of movement free of said abutment to release the article for removal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 381,892 4/88 Underwood 19463 1,579,163 3/26 Stewart 194--63 1,947,999 2/34 McCormick et al. 194-63 2,309,055 1/43 Ferris 19465 2,666,514 1/54 Stewart l94-61 2,831,604 4/58 Sloyer 221-133 2,934,239 4/60 Salisbury 221133 2,940,574 6/60 Tebay 221133 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner, 

